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Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Cardinal brings message of peace and sambal to Sanusi
Cardinal Sebastian Francis with Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor at Wisma Darul Aman, in Alor Setar, last Sunday. (Cardinal's office pic) GEORGE TOWN : A colourful show of interfaith harmony unfolded in Alor Setar over the weekend when Catholic Cardinal Sebastian Francis paid a courtesy visit to Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor and senior PAS ulamas. The meeting, held at the menteri besar's office on Sunday afternoon, marked a rare moment of engagement between the top Catholic cleric and the leadership of a state led by PAS. With warm smiles and light-hearted exchanges, the cardinal handed over a set of gifts; a Penan basket filled with local food products, and a copy of the Abu Dhabi Declaration on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together. The declaration, signed by the late Pope Francis and Grand Imam Al-Tayyeb in 2019, calls for interfaith understanding and peaceful coexistence. Contents of the woven purple basket included four types of sambal, coffee, jackfruit chips, and a mosquito-repelling candle for campers. Sanusi, looking relaxed in his khaki jacket, accepted the gifts with a smile, later giving the cardinal his own token of appreciation. Later, the cardinal and the menteri besar had mee goreng and teh tarik. Kedah PAS ulama chief Syeikh Rodi Abdul Rahman was also present. When contacted, Cardinal Sebastian, who oversees Catholic dioceses in the northern states including Kedah, said the visit was part of a wider outreach to PAS-led state governments. He had previously met leaders in Kelantan and Perlis. 'This is not just a social call. It is a moment of spiritual and civic bonding. Faith, hope and love must guide us to justice and to see each other as brothers and sisters,' he said. He also recalled the long history of Kedah's Catholic community, which traces its roots to 1781, and the role of mission schools in education. He thanked the Kedah government for preserving harmony and hoped the meeting would pave the way for stronger ties.
Forbes
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
'Bad Shabbos' Creators Talk Influences Behind Jewish Comedy Film
'Bad Shabbos' The commonly cordial greeting you're likely to hear every Friday night and Saturday as Jewish people around the globe observe the Sabbath goes comically wrong in director Daniel Robbins' Bad Shabbos (now playing in select theaters nationwide). One of the funniest Jewish-themed comedies ever made, the movie centers around an engaged interfaith couple, David (Jon Bass) and Meg (Meghan Leathers), whose parents are about to meet for the very first time over a traditional Friday night Shabbos dinner on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. As if tensions weren't running high enough, the evening affair becomes even more hectic with the unexpected arrival of a dead body, turning the weekly day of rest into one of side-splitting tsuris and sparking a mad scramble to figure out what to do with the corpse before Meg's straight-laced Catholic parents (Catherine Curtin and John Bedford Lloyd) arrive from Wisconsin. The end result is a hilarious and heartfelt exploration of faith, family, and foreskin. Yes, really. 'There's a whole tier of comedies I love like Meet the Parents, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Birdcage. And this movie pulled a lot from those," Robbins says over a joint Zoom call with co-screenwriter, Zack Weiner. 'The impetus," the filmmaker explains, "was to make an amalgam of the comedies we loved [as kids]. We've grown frustrated that the comedies recently just have such an air of fake-ness. I like SNL, but a lot of them just feel like an SNL sketch. The movies we grew up watching have a real grounded-ness to them and more of an edge. They also have more visual jokes, they don't just rely on improv-ing dialogue.' Weiner also cites Death at a Funeral, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, a pre-problematic Woody Allen, and his own family mealtimes as inspiration. In fact, the idea for the project began to take shape after Bad Shabbos producer Adam Mitchell heard about Weiner's mother playing a harmless prank on an unsuspecting dinner guest. 'We had a friend and his girlfriend come over," Weiner recalls. "My mom was serving my friend's girlfriend with progressively smaller plates and cups, while everyone else was eating off normal cutlery. Our producer heard about it and thought it was pretty funny. He called and said, 'That's an interesting [setup] for a movie. What if the prank went wrong and there was a accidental murder instead of a slightly offended girlfriend?'" 'When you find writers [to work on] something that's personal and so in their world, it always comes across on the screen,' adds Mitchell on a separate call. 'It was just the perfect match of writers and material.' Weiner continues: 'Daniel and I had been talking about an accidental murder movie in an apartment before that, but we couldn't figure it out. And when it was [decided that it would be]Mitchell proved instrumental in getting the acting ensemble together through New York-based casting directors Seth White, Cody Beke, and Daniel Frankel. 'It was just a process of getting people to read the script,' states the producer. 'Jon Bass came on board early. We got it to him, and he really liked it. Once that happened, other pieces started to fall into place." From there, Bad Shabbos was able to enlist the talents of David Paymer (Ocean's Thirteen) and Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) as David's parents, Ellen and Richard; Milana Vayntrub (This is Us) as David's sister, Abby; Ashley Zukerman (The Lost Symbol) as Abby's jerk of a boyfriend, Benjamin; Theo Taplitz (Little Men) as David and Abby's younger brother, Adam; and a scene-stealing Cliff 'Method Man' Smith (Power Book II: Ghost) as quick-thinking doorman Jordan. 'The agents liked it and then shared it with [their clients],' Robbins says. 'Kyra said it was one of the only times she laughed out loud reading a script. It was really that simple. None of us had an in and thankfully, these actors had faith in us, because we haven't made anything at a big scale. So it was nice that they trusted the material and their gut. They all deserve so much credit for signing on.' 'There was something for each character to do, and that was really the strength in it — of each character being really funny and quirky in their own way, [while] bringing something different to the Shabbat table,' adds Mitchell. 'There's no weak roles, really, because everybody was funny in their own way." 'Bad Shabbos' The producer adds that casting as many Jewish actors as possible was of the utmost importance because the entire goal was 'to paint a picture of a dysfunctional, but authentic, Jewish family in Manhattan, with characters that people can relate to. People have been coming up to us and [saying how they relate] to every one of the characters in some way; seeing their mother in the mother or their father in the father." That commitment to authenticity is what imbues Bad Shabbos with a universality that appeals to everyone, not just Jews — much in the same way My Big Fat Greek Wedding tackled Greek Orthodox traditions. 'The goal was to do that in a Jewish setting,' says Robbins, who also wanted to present a different viewpoint on everyday Judaism beyond the usual 'Hasids doing crimes or treating it as a light joke. Seeing authentic portrayals, where religion does add warmth and meaning to life was nice. Christians love the movie, because they're really relating to that aspect of it." 'Whether you're Jewish or not, you can relate to having these family dynamics," agrees Mitchell, '[from] sibling arguments to parents bickering … It's not trying to say too much. It's just an old school, chaotic hijinks, family comedy that we don't see as much of anymore." Bad Shabbos debuted to rave reviews at the Tribeca Film Festival last fall and even went on to nab the event's coveted Audience Award. 'It was only supposed to be three screenings, and then we sold out all three. It was such a hit, that they gave us two extra screenings,' Mitchell says. 'That kickstarted [the whole thing] and gave us the belief that it's a film that should be seen in the theaters … If we could hit the targeted market, then we could do enough business. So far, it's coming to fruition.' After Tribeca, the title began a limited theatrical release in southern Florida last winter (in order to take advantage of 'the snowbird season,' notes the producer) before landing a nationwide rollout deal from Jewish-focused distributor Menemsha Films. As of this writing, Bad Shabbos is closing in on $1 million at the domestic box office — a seriously impressive feat for any small-scale indie production, especially one made by filmmakers in their early 30s who don't have access to a multi-million dollar marketing budget. "We're don't have Super Bowl ads or any major advertising in that way,' Mitchell says. 'So it's been inspiring to see people in cities across the country coming and selling out shows, just [through] old school word of mouth.' ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 19: Adam Mitchell and Daniel Robbins attend the 25th Atlanta Jewish Film ... More Festival "Bad Shabbos" opening night premiere at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on February 19, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by) Seeing the film in a theater setting isn't just financially advantageous to the makers, it also enhances the experience for the viewer. "Some movies are twice as good if you see them in a crowd," says Robbins. 'This one is like five times [better] because it was [rigorously] tested in the crowd … We probably did over 10 test screenings and then a lot more smaller ones. We'd have Google Sheets, getting responses, having a lot of non-Jewish audience members to figure out what's clicking, what's not, where they might get lost. And we got to a place where play is equal in both crowds." Should the film up doing gangbusters — or 'supernova," as Robbins puts it — the team isn't opposed to making a sequel, which would most likely revolve around 'everyone traveling to Wisconsin for the wedding and what goes on there,' muses the director. 'We'd have to change the genre. So while this one was a dead body thriller, the next one might be more of a mystery-type film. But we'll see…' 'There have also been calls about … remakes in certain ways or stage adaptations; people who are interested in buying the rights in other areas,' Mitchell concludes. 'So you might see some sort of spinoff, or adaptations in other countries or other formats coming as well. There are conversations being had right now. I think because of how strong the concept is, it will live on through this movie, and potentially through a couple other formats or languages or remakes — and maybe a sequel as well. But yeah, I think there will be more to come.' Bad Shabbos is now playing in select theaters. Click here for tickets!
BBC News
18-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Tributes to 'luminous presence' in Derby's Hindu community
Tributes have been paid to a leading figure in Derby's Hindu Kumar Bali, 89, who was "pivotal" in the founding of both the city's Multi-Faith Centre and the Geeta Bhawan Hindu Temple, died on 7 was awarded an MBE in the 2014 New Year's Honours list for services to interfaith relations in Derby and the East Midlands.A statement from the temple said Mr Bali, who came to Derby in 1974 after his family's expulsion from Uganda, "leaves behind a legacy of selfless service and deep commitment to the community". Prof Jonathan Powers, fellow honorary vice president at the Multi-Faith Centre, said Mr Bali had been "a constant, luminous presence" in setting up the centre at the University of Derby's Kedleston Road added: "He is someone who will be sorely missed by all who knew him."He would encourage us to accept the natural rhythm of existence but also encourage us to strive to keep the flame of enlightenment alive."
Malay Mail
29-06-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
George Town's ‘mini Mecca': Acheen Street Mosque opens its doors for cultural harmony and heritage
GEORGE TOWN, June 30 — Over the past several years, the Acheen Street Mosque here has opened its doors to the general public during Ramadan to host buka puasa with non-Muslims. The historical mosque, located along Acheh Street, also has a sign on its gate welcoming non-Muslims to visit it. According to mosque committee member Mohd Norhisham Mohd Abdul Kadir, this is a way for them to spread the peaceful teachings of Islam so that non-Muslims can understand the religion better. 'We don't want people to misunderstand us so our doors are always open to everyone, for them to better understand Islam and the beauty of our religion,' he said. He said during Ramadan, they will have a harmony iftar by inviting leaders from other communities including priests from the churches in George Town and members from the Chinese kongsi and temples. He said it is a way to promote harmony among the communities in the heritage city while also encouraging better understanding among different religious groups and cultures. 'It is why we have a signboard that welcomes non-Muslims to visit our mosque,' he said. He said the mosque is open to visitors as long as it is not during prayer times and visitors are only required to dress appropriately if they want to enter. Traditional 'kampung' houses within the mosque compound remain today and the mosque committee is planning to restore the one vacant house and turn it into an Islamic religious school. — Picture by Opalyn Mok There are still five kampung houses within the compound of Acheen Street Mosque, also known as Masjid Lebuh Acheh, that are still occupied by tenants who have been living there for decades. These are half-mansonry and half-timber bungalows that were built in the 19th century. 'Only one of these houses is vacant as we are planning to restore it and turn it into a religious school,' Mohd Norhisham said. The Acheen Street Mosque was built in 1808 by a Muslim leader and trader from Acheh, Indonesia, Tunku Syed Hussain Al-Aidid. It is one of the earliest mosques in Penang and formed an important part of the island's Islamic history. A photo of Muslim pilgrims stopping over at the Acheen Street Mosque before continuing on to Mecca. — Picture from Penang Postcard Collection 1899-1930 The area surrounding the mosque used to be known as the Malay town, and was called the 'mini Mecca' in the 19th century when Muslim scholars and pilgrims used to stop there on their way to Mecca for the Haj. It was a hub for Muslims to gather and it was also a centre of Islamic education that attracted students and religious teachers from across the region. The mosque also played an important role in spreading Islamic teachings and culture even as Penang grew into a major trading port. The mosque features unique architectural styles such as a weather vane on top of its minaret to show the direction of the wind. At that time, the minaret of the mosque stood tall above the houses and served as a beacon for ships. The minaret itself showcases influences of Yemenis or Egyptians, Chinese pagoda and Mughal buildings while the tiered roof featured Hokkien-style swallowtail ridges that were common in 18th to 19th century mosques throughout the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Java. The mausoleum of Tunku Syed Hussain and his family members is next to the mosque. — Picture by Opalyn Mok Next to the mosque is the mausoleum of Tunku Syed Hussain and his family. The Acheen Street Mosque will be one of the eight buildings to conduct open house tours as part of the Historic Building Open House programme during heritage celebrations on July 7.
National Post
28-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Raymond J. de Souza: Christian and Jewish leaders unite to combat the scourge of antisemitism
An important summit of some 100 faith leaders — roughly 50 Jewish rabbis and 50 Christian pastors — was held in Toronto this week to combat rising antisemitism in Canada. The focus was more theological than strategic or political, with an opening address by the peerless professor Rabbi David Novak, Toronto's gift to all who sincerely desire to speak to God and about God. Novak spoke of Jacques Maritain, the French philosopher who served as France's post-war ambassador to the Holy See. It was that kind of gathering, where wise men shared the wisdom of the ages — a tonic for today's toxic twittering and taunting. Article content Article content The summit was a summons to Christian congregations to stand against antisemitism, not only in solidarity with Jews, but primarily because of their own religious beliefs. Article content Article content Two such beliefs are foundational, one general and one particular. Generally, Jews and Christians believe in universal human dignity, that everyone is created in the image of God. In particular, Jews believe that God chooses, and that they are a chosen people for the sake of all nations. Christians believe that from this comes, in Jesus Christ, a Jew, the universal gift of salvation for all peoples. Article content For both reasons, Christians ought to be concerned about antisemitism, a rising scourge in Canada. Last year, columnist Terry Glavin documented the ' explosion of Jew hate ' that we have seen in our streets of late, with vile speech, vandalism and violence visited upon Jews, their synagogues, schools and shops. Article content 'This is not Paris,' said Rick Eckstein, the driving force behind what is called the ' Simeon Initiative, ' in his introductory remarks. Eckstein is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who is deeply convinced that one righteous person can make a difference. He recounted how his own mother was saved from the Holocaust by three righteous Poles, including a Catholic priest. His very existence is the fruit of those Catholics standing with courage for Jews. Article content The Paris comment struck me. Rising levels of antisemitism, including terrorism, have meant that 'normal' Jewish life in France now proceeds under multiple layers of security — private, police and military. France's Jews have their own organized ' protection service,' which serves to co-ordinate the need for security. To be a Jew in France is to live under perpetual threat. Article content Article content Is Toronto headed in the same direction? Private security is now 'normal' at Jewish community centres, schools and daycare centres. Synagogues spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on security — costs that would sink many Christian parishes. Jewish neighbourhoods are regularly targeted by demonstrations supportive of Hamas and its explicitly genocidal goal of driving Jews into the sea. Article content The Simeon Initiative is named after the biblical figure who greets the infant Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem, thus serving as a bridge between Jews and Christians. It is a joint venture of my colleagues at Cardus, Canada's leading Christian think-tank, and my former colleagues at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Canada's leading Jewish advocacy group. It is a pleasure to see Christian and Jewish colleagues in common cause; would that the cause be a happier one.
